A Legacy of Impunity: The Six-Year Wait for Justice
July 23, 2026, marks the somber sixth anniversary of the brutal lynching of 90-year-old Akua Denteh in the village of Kafaba, Ghana. Her public murder, fueled by accusations of witchcraft, triggered national outrage and prompted a legislative push that has since stalled. Today, Amnesty International and local partners such as Songtaba are intensifying calls for the Ghanaian government to enact the Anti-Witchcraft Accusations Bill, which has remained in legislative limbo since its initial parliamentary passage in 2023.
While the two individuals directly involved in the 2020 lynching were sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2023, the systemic environment that allowed the accusation to escalate into fatal violence remains largely unaddressed. According to Amnesty International, hundreds of women—primarily the elderly, the impoverished, and those suffering from health conditions—continue to flee their communities annually, seeking refuge in informal camps where living conditions are often dire.
The Legislative Standoff
The Anti-Witchcraft Accusations Bill, passed by the Ghanaian Parliament in July 2023, was designed to criminalize the act of accusing individuals of witchcraft and to establish robust support systems for victims. However, the bill was never signed into law. Former President Nana Akufo-Addo declined to assent, citing constitutional concerns regarding the bill’s status as a private member’s initiative rather than a government-sponsored proposal. To date, no revised version has been reintroduced to the legislature, leaving a significant legal vacuum.
“The Anti-Witchcraft Accusations Bill passed in July 2023 was a significant step towards protecting victims,” said Hannah Osei, Interim Country Director of Amnesty International Ghana. She emphasized that the failure to codify these protections leaves vulnerable women without a legal pathway to justice, reparations, or safe reintegration into society.
Beyond Legislation: A Call for Holistic Reform
Advocates argue that criminalization, while necessary, is insufficient to eradicate the practice. The root causes of witchcraft accusations are deeply embedded in socioeconomic factors, including poverty, lack of access to healthcare, and gender-based discrimination. Songtaba Executive Director Lamnatu Adam noted that accusations often follow tragic events like sudden deaths or illnesses, with older women becoming scapegoats for community grief or fear.
Amnesty International is pushing for a multi-faceted approach that includes a government-resourced national awareness campaign and comprehensive social and economic reintegration programs for those currently living in “witch camps.” These sites, currently overseen by religious leaders, offer basic shelter but fail to provide the long-term stability or health services required by the residents.